It was a sunny afternoon, the wee boy was sleeping, and DH and his buddy were in the garage working on the bike. I finally had some peace and quiet
I took a few scrap pieces of fabric and started playing with different lengths. I thought about ways I would wear a scarf and thought about what parts of my body I always tried to cover while nursing. And when I thought about it, it really wasn't all about the chest and breasts.
My main goal was to figure out how to make a scarf, (something I'd wear anyway) into a nursing cover that would easily cover my back and muffin top while I was breastfeeding.
And later that afternoon I came up with THIS:
I had to play around with different sizes to figure out what worked best for most moms out there.
I actually still have it, and I wear it occasionally just as a scarf now, as Little N is slowly weening himself off of mom milk - he doesnt need to nurse in public so much- but he's a cranky wee boy if he doesnt get his morning milk ! ( sort of like me with coffee ! )
After I made it, I wore it everywhere ! It became a staple part of my everyday outfits. I showed it to a few moms in play groups, and then I found that random women were approaching me and asking where I got my nursing cover. I then decided to make more and sell them to a few moms, then on kijiji, then on etsy...
Forn the first couple weeks, I lived, ate and breathed all things "Nursing Cover " related. Research, Branding, logo design, websites, blogs, more sewing, social media set up....etc.etc. etc. It was like a surge of electricity that was running through me. I had something to do that didnt really have to do with : the house, or groceries, or diapers....It was like I had tunnel vision with this. Dont get me wrong, I still managed to take care of and entertain little N, and do the day to day household neccessities -But any spare time I had was soley getting this Idea of mine off the ground and out there into the world !
For the first few days I tried to come up with a Name to call the scarf. There were a few I liked:
HotMilk
HauteMilk Couture
Haute Au Lait
CoverMe
CoverBee
CoverBabe
CoverBean
CoverBaby
CoverYou
and then...my dear husband's suggestion : The Tittie Scarf.
Yeah.... NO.
I wanted to call it something...cute, but not too cute. But Definatley Something respectful. Something easy to remember, something that just rolls off the tongue. And "CoverBoo" was it.
Yes- Its a Cover. What are your covering? Well, your boob...among other jiggliy things.
But also...what do some people call thier babies ? I don't know about you..but sometimes we'd call him "Boo"
CoverBoo Couture
YES! I had a name....now for a logo.
Being in the Graphic Design industry for the better part of my adult life was a bonus. I used to design and build architectural signage, corporate identities, do logo design, and tradeshow signage and advertising.
So I drew a number of thumbnail sketches till I found a clean design I could work with and tweak.
here is a peek at a few layouts I played around with.
At first the tagline was " Nursing wear for the Modern Mom"
...then I changed it to " Modern Nursing wearwith a twist"
Kind of a play on words there - seeing how you twist the scarf when you wear it !
Once I had a name and a logo everything else just sort of started to fall into place. I started going out and meeting people from various businesses and connecting with local mom groups . Special Shout out to
catherine finlayson of http://bibagogo.com/ who first met with me and introduced me to a handful of local peeps who would play a very integral part in the growth of the CoverBoo Couture Brand !
So much has happened in the past year -
The first 4 months were pretty much just doing some research & Development, Doing Auctions, tradeshows, farmers markets, promos and give aways and meeting with people to create the buzz about CoverBoo and get the brand "out there".
But Things really started to to happen in January - when I finally launched the online store, did a fashion show at WEM in support of PPD, and got my first retailer to carry CoverBoo ! Since then, the CoverBoo is being sold in 2 online stores, 2 spas, and 6 brick & morter retailers in Edmonton and surrounding areas. We Got some wonderful press with a couple of magazines - one local and one Canada wide. There has been many mentions on various blogs and webstites, and even a video review. http://babybellykelli.com/2012/08/13/coverboo-couture-a-more-fashionable-way-to-cover-up/
I also got to meet a Canadian TV host and a Dragon !
Here is a few pics of some of the highlights from this journey of mine !
But Things really started to to happen in January - when I finally launched the online store, did a fashion show at WEM in support of PPD, and got my first retailer to carry CoverBoo ! Since then, the CoverBoo is being sold in 2 online stores, 2 spas, and 6 brick & morter retailers in Edmonton and surrounding areas. We Got some wonderful press with a couple of magazines - one local and one Canada wide. There has been many mentions on various blogs and webstites, and even a video review. http://babybellykelli.com/2012/08/13/coverboo-couture-a-more-fashionable-way-to-cover-up/
I also got to meet a Canadian TV host and a Dragon !
Here is a few pics of some of the highlights from this journey of mine !
The CoverBoo Belles from the Fashion show @ WEM
Meeting Ms. Nanny Robina from
"The Mom Show" & "CityLine"
I met one of Canada's Day Time TV Hosts:
The Ever Lovely Ms. Tracey Moore of CITYLINE
Meeting Arlene Dickinson of Dragon's Den fame,
But also a marketing professional and
CEO of Venture Communications
Actually Auditioning for a Spot on Dragons Den.
I didnt make the cut this year.
But they asked me to come back next year with more stats !
CoverBoo Couture Nursing Scarf was among one of the
Top 40 "Hot Tot Products" this year
By ModernMama
There's just too much AWESOME to rehash - so just look on the past blog posts !
Its just so cool to think that all this started off
because I was playing with my sewing machine in my kitchen.
And now the CoverBoo has been shipped
across Canada, and the United States
From NewYork to California and Nevada to Phoenix and Ohio to Hawaii,
From Cuba to Austrailia
and the orders keep staggering in.
It Blows my mind EVERY time !
* On another note *
I would like to take this opportunity to state something.
I would like to take this opportunity to state something.
Although I am in the business of producing Nursing Covers for Breastfeeding Mothers,
I would like to say for the record:
I am PRO- FEEDING.
I support BreastFeeding, Bottlefeeding, Formula Feeding, Milk Banks, Wet Nurses
basically, Everywhich way you can get nourishment to your child.
The CoverBoo Couture Nursing Scarf is
designed with the mother WOMAN in mind.
Not all women who choose to breastfeed may feel the need or
even want to use a cover, and that is fine.
even want to use a cover, and that is fine.
But some women, like myself at one point in time, can feel very self concious about
nursing in public, especially when you're a new mom.
The CoverBoo is just a convenient way to ease the anxiety.
Those who dont have the need for a cover can still wear it as an accessory.
It is still a cute scarf !
I have to say that this past year has been quite an adventure for me.
Its been great to have a new challenge, having something new to learn, being able to meet new people.
I havent been this social in ages. Definatley more enjoyable than punching in and out at the office.
I may have to juggle my time between being a mom, a wife, a daughter,a friend and working part time at home, designing, sewing, being a home maker...finding time to clean and get groceries, maybe write a blog post or two...But Its been wonderful .... and all I can say, is thank goodness for social media. Yes - FB and Twitter have been great for both my business part of life and personal - as my telephone conversations are strained with barking dogs and a "look at me" child in the background vying for my attention... But its worth it !
Special thanks to these business owners who brought the CoverBoo into their Stores
I would also Like to take this time to Thank Everyone who has supported me.
My Family, Friends, Business associates,Customers, FaceBook Fans, Twitter Fans,
Your advice, and feedback on the product are greatly appreciated !
Thanks again !
maria
